Engraving machine



March 8, 1932 w. s. EATON ENGRAVING' MACHINE Filed April l5 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 a w 0% Ri INVENTOR March 8, 1932 w, EATON 1,848,465

ENGRAYING MACHINE Filed April 1926 a Sheets-Sheet 2 as Q |l II Q5 m 'l a m w s Q i I q l I. m g HUI H a r lll'l W #1 I. (a R 15in 3 a a m a. 4 a *8 w t. N I II II 1 q INVENTOR 4L, ATTORNEY March 8, 1932. v w. s. EATON 1,848,465

ENGRAVING MACHIN E Filed April 15, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 azzzw fi zu INVENTOR 1,4, ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 8, 1932 WILLIAM S. EATON, OF SAG- HARBOR, NEW.YORK

ENGRAVING MACHINE Application filed April 15, 1926. Serial No. 102,157.

My invention relatesto engravingmachines, andm'ore' particularly to a machine capable of automatically producing artistic, engraved diskswhiclr may be used for the dials of i watches or other purposes.

In engraving machines used for the production of designs upon a work plate in accordance'with amaster plate, it has long been the practice to use a'machine in which the gra'veror other work point is caused to have movement transmitted thereto by a lever system carrying a tracing stylus which is caused to follow a course, or to have movement, as determined bythe design upon the master '15 plate, or to move the support for the work plate by a lever system in a similar manner. In the first instance the support for the work plate is stationary, and the graver or 7 other. point ismoved with relation thereto,

while in the latter case the graver or other work tool is stationary and the support with the work plate thereon has movement. In both types ofmachine, the reproduction of the design results from a'movement correspending with thelines of the design of either the graver or other work point or the support for the work plate, although the employment of thele'ver system permits a variance in the quantity of such movement as V compared with that of the stylus co-operating with the master plate. In machines of the types above referred to, during the production of a design, the graver I or other-work point is continuously engaged with the Work plate unless manually moved out of such engagement by the operator for the purpose of inspecting the progress of the work'or upon the completion of the making of each separate line or character in the .de- -10 sign. The operator is also required tomanually move the stylus in accordance. with the lines upon the master or pattern, which movements of the stylus, through the lever mechanism above referred-to, will cause a relative e5 movement of th'e'holder for the graver or other work point and of the support for the work "plate corresponding with the movements of the stylus. i -Machines as above referred to are used "5'0 largely for what is lmown as commercial work such as the production of printing plates, matrices used in type casting machines, and other articles.

A machine embodying my invention as distinguished from the types of machines above referred to, is capable of automatically producing various engraved articles, such as the dials of watches, requiring no attention from the operator beyond the mounting of the work plate or disk in the holders and the removal of the finished product from the machine. The construction is such as to lend itself to the simultaneous automatic production of a plurality of such articles from a single master or pattern, all of such articles thus produced being substantially identical and of substantially uniform quality of workmanship. As distinguished from the older types of machines above referred to, an engraving machine embodying my invention, employs no tracing stylus and neither the Work support nor the holder for the graver or work point have any relative movement as determined by the lines upon the master or pattern, the machine possessing none of the characteristics of the old and well known types of pantographic engraving machines above referred to.

In a machine embodying the invention, the production of the design results from the automatic movement oflthe holder for the graver or other work point, toward and from the support for the work plate or disk, the movements of the holder being under the control of an electrically actuated mechanism, the functioning of which is determined by elcctroconductive and electro-nonconductive portions of'the design upon a master or pattern. I

The machine includes therein a support for a master or pattern bearing thereon a design to be reproduced, parts of which are of elec tro-conductive and other parts of which are of electro-nonconductive material. Associated with this support is a contact member which in co-operation with the pattern or master controls the circuit to a magnet, the functioning of which results in the engagement or disengagement of the graver or other Work point and the work plateor disk upon character to progressively bring different portions of the design thereon within the op erative range of said contact member, and the contact member has movement'transversely v to the movement of the support, so' as to ensure the operative engagement of the contact with every portion of the design upon the master or pattern. To ensure a substantial reproduction of the design upon said pattern or master, upon the work plate or disk, the

supports for the-said work plate or'disk have imparted thereto movement simultaneously with and corresponding to that of the sup-' port for the pattern or master, andthe hold er'or holders for the grave'r or gravers, or

' other work points, receive movement trans versely of the support for the work plate or disk simultaneously with the movement of the contact'member transversely ofthe master or pattern in orderto bring'each graver orwork point into the operative relation with every portion of the work plate or, disk upon which it acts. It is preferable, however, to impart to the said holders a-smaller quantity of such movement in order to secure a reduc-,

' tion inthe scale of thereproduced design as compared with that of the master or pattern.

The holder for each graver or work point is preferably spring-pressed toward the support for the work plate or disk with which it co-operates, and is acted upon by a retracting spring for ensuring a rapid disengagement thereof with the work plate ordisk when the electrically actuated controlling mechanism operative'uponthese holders, has movement permitting such movement of the holder.

' The means for imparting movement to the ,contact'member transversely of the pattern or master isjalso utilized toimpart similar movement tothe holder or holders with re:

lationto the support or supports for the work 7 plate or disk, themechanism used for this purpose being so constructed as to permit variation in the scale of the reproduction.

I also may provide in the machine, an electrical system'which may be so set as to either permit a. cameo reproductionof the design or an intaglio reproduction thereof, changes in thesetting of the machine involving merely a change in the setting of the electrical system and not requiring any change or modification in other parts orjmechanisms in the 7 machine.

Under some' conditions itis desirable to vary the depth of the lines in thereproductions, or to impart a wavy or zigzag effect in the lines. To meet this condition, Iprovide mechanisms which may be selectively used and which coeoperatefrespectively with the actuating means for. imparting movement to the holders for the gravers or other work points, to modify the operative effect of this mechanism under the influence of the electrically actuated means acting thereupon, 01' with the mechanism for imparting movement of the holders transversely of the supportfor the work plate or disk, to impart a vibratory movement thereto while said holders are having such transverse movement. Either mechanism may be adjusted to vary its operative eifect,'or may be made entirely, inoperative so as to cause the reproduced design to conform exactly with the design upon the pattern or master. 7

The supports for the master or pattern and for the work plates or disks, are actuated through the same mechanism, thus ensuring accuracy in the timing of the movements of the master or pattern and of the work plate or disk, or all of such when a plurality'of work supports are used.

The invention consists primarily in an engraving machine embodying therein a sup- 7 port for a master, a support for awork plate,

means imparting similar simultaneous moveit toward said support against the tension of said spring, means controlling the movement of said memberby its spring, a master bearinga design having portions of electro-conductive material and other portions of electro-nonconductive material, an electrical contact member co-operating with said master, means imparting movement to said contact member transversely of said master, operative connections between said means and, said holder,'whereby said holder is moved transversely of the work plate simultaneously with the movement of saidcontact member transversely of; said master, and an electrically actuated mechanism operative upon said spring actuated member, the circuit to which is controlled by said master and saidcontact member, whereby said holder will be automatically caused to engage or disengage the work point with the work plate as determined by. the opening or closing of an electrical circuit at said master; and'in such other novel features of construction-and combinationof parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in .the claims hereto appended. 7 Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a planview of an engraving machineembodying my invention; 7 e

Fig. '2 is an end view thereof from the left ofFig.l;and v Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the electrical conditions in amachine. r I Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views. -f a I .In the embodimentof the invention shown in the drawings, the support for the master or pattern is shown as being in the form of aturn table 1O rotatably mounted in a hearing upon the base 11 of the machine. Said support 10 is continuously rotated about a verticalaxis by means of a worm wheel 12 carried thereby and a worm 13 upon a worm shaft 14 meshing therewith. Said shaft 14 is driven through a worm gear 15 thereon and a worm 16 upon the main power shaft 17. The shaft 17 is driven from any desired source of power by means of the pulley 18.

Also mounted upon the base 11 are a plurality of supports each adapted to receive a work plate or disk, each of which is rotatably mounted to have movement aboutan axis at right angles to that of the support 10. The construction of each of these supports is identical with every other, and a plurality of such is used merely to permit the simultaneous production of a number of engraved plates or disks each of which will conform exactly with every other. To simplify the description of the machine, but one of these supports will be described in detail, corresponding reference numerals being applied to the other supports, it being understood that the number of such supports may be in; creased or decreased, according to the desired output of a machine.

Each support comprises a head 19, to the face of which a'work plate or disk may be secured in any desired manner, the center of 00 this plate being accurately alined with the axis of the shaft 20 carrying said head and mounted'in a horizontal bearing 21.

Carried by each shaft 20 is a worm wheel 22in mesh with a worm 23 upon the shaft 14. By this construction each ofthe work plate or disk holders will have the same number of revolutions per minute as the support 10, since the various wheels 12 and 22 are of the same diameter, and the various worms 23 and 13 are of the same pitch.

Associated with each support 19 is a holder for a graver or work point, the number of such holders corresponding with'the numberof supports for work plates or disks. In the accompanying drawings four such supports 19 are shown, and conseouentl 1 themaohine will include therein four holders for gravers or work points. Each of these hold rs is identical in construction and mode of opera tion with every other, and a detailed description of but one of them will therefore be given, corresponding reference numerals being applied to the other holders and parts appurtenant thereto.

Each holder 24 for the graver or other work point 25 is movable towards and from the holder 19 with which it co-operates, as by being slidably mounted in a bearing 26 having a slot 27 in the top thereof through which astud 28 carried bythe holder 24, projects, so

as to be engaged by a spring 29 havinga normal tendency to move the holder away from the support 19.

The bearing 26 is supported from a carriage 30 slidably mounted upon a support 31 by means of roller bearings and co-oper ating raceways 32, or any other mechanism which will permit the free movement of the carriage 30, and prevent such loosenessthereof, or such play therein, as will permit any material movement thereof toward or from the support 19.

Mounted upon the support 10 in any desired manner is a master or pattern 33 bearing thereon a design, parts of which, as indicated by the lines 34, are of electro-nonconductive material, the master or pattern itself being of electro-conductive material andin electrical connection with the support 10 and therethrough with the base 11 of the machine.

(Jo-operating with the support 10 and the master 33 thereon is a contact member 35 pivotally mounted upon a slide 36, the pivots of this member being at right angles to the axis of the support 10 so to permit the member 35 to descend by gravity into engagement with the master or pattern 33.

Means are provided for imparting movement to the contact member transversely of said support 10, which means are also operative to impart simultaneous movement to the holder for each graver or work point with relation to the support 19 with which it is associated.

In the form of the invention shown, the slide 36 has secured thereto a rack 37 meshing with which is a gear 38, the movement of which gear will impart lineal traverse to the carriage 36 and cause it to have movement transversely of the master or pattern 33 so as to bring every portion of the design both as to the electro-conductive and the electro-nonconductive portions thereof, within the operative range of the contact member as a result of the rotary movement of the support 10 and of the lineal movement of the member 36. The gear 33 is actuated by means of the entrained gears 39 and 40, the former of which is carried by a shaft 4-1 carrying a large worm gear 42, meshing with which is a worm 43 upon a shaft l4 driven by a speed reducing gear train 45 actuated from the shaft 46 by means of the worm wheel l7 and the worm 48 meshing therewith and carried by the shaft 17.

The gear 40 is idly mounted upon the shaft 49, carrying the gear 38, and is adapted to be connected or disconnected with said shaft by means of the manually operative clutch member 50. This clutch member is used to facilitate the setting and resetting of the machine. The means of driving the gear 38, and through it and the rack 37, imparting movement to the carriage 36, secures a reduction in speed of said gear as compared with the shaft 17 to an extent which will result in contact member 35 across the master or'pattern 33, it will be obvious that the corre sponding movement of the gravers or work points with "relation to the work plates or disks carried by the supports19 is also necessary, inorder to cause the gravers or other work pointsto engrave or chase every portion ofthe work plate or disk in accordance with, or' as controlled by, the master or pattern. To secure this simultaneous movement, I provide alever 51 one end of which is pivotally connected with the slide 36, and the other end of which ispivoted to a member 52 spaced from said carriage, a link or pitman 53 being pivotally connected with thecarriage 30, at 54c, and withsaid lever at a point intermediate its ends, sothat the travel of the holders for the gravers or work points will be even slower than that of the carriage 36. With the arrangement shown, the ratio of movementof the holders as compared with that of said carriage 36 will be as one totwo, or approximately so; As a matter of convenience, I provide the lever 52 with an elongated slot 55 in which the pivot 56 of the link 53 may beadjusted and set so as to permit a variation in this leverage, or a setting of the machine for the production of designs upon the work plates or disks upon different scales. The link 53 is made in two telescoping sections connected by means of a setscrew as shown, to permit this adjustment.

. The spring 29 has a'normal tendency to withdraw the holder 24: with its graver or work point 25 away from the support. 19 for the work plate or disk, an electrically actuated mechanism operative upon said holder being provided, the circuit to which mechanism is controlled'by'the pattern or master 33 so that the holders will be automatically 1 caused to move toward said support 19 to bring the graver or work point into operative engagement-with the" plate or disk thereon, or permit it to be moved out of such operative engagement. This electrically operated means comprises a shaft 57 "having acrank 58 thereon engageable with a stud 59 carried by the holder 24, and movable in a slot in. the

bearing 26 for said holder." This permits a right-line movement of the holder.

-Carrie'd.by said shaft 57 is an armature plate 60 co-operating withan electromagnet 61; vOperative uponthej armature 60 is a stop mechanism. consisting,in the form of the invention shown, of a rod 62 passing therethrough and carrying a stop member as the nut 63. Acting upon the shaft 57 is means, asthe spring 64, having a normal tendency to rock theshaft in amanner to impart move mentto the holder. or holders 24 in .a manner to engage the'graver or work point 25 with a plate upon the holder 19. This spring 64; is connectedat'one endwith an arm 65 upon the carriage 30 and at other end with a crank 66 carried by the shaft 57. The electrical connections in the machine are illustrated in the diagram shown inFig. 3 of the drawings, the conditions therein illustrated being such that by the mere adj ustment or change in the setting of the elec trical switches in the machine, the design reproduced upon the work plate or disk may be made either in cameo or in intaglio from one and the same master.

In this wiring system the source is shown as being anordinary storage battery 67, the lead 68 from the positive pole of which is connected directly with one terminal of the electro-magnets 61, and another lead from which is connected with one movable contact member 69 of a switch mechanism having contacts 70 and 71 connected respectively through the leads 72and7 3 with one terminal of llllBbOllSTt of a relay mechanism 75, the other terminal of which windings is with the master or pattern 33. This lead 77 is also connected with a movable contact 7 8 of a switch mechanism adapted to engage contacts 79 or 80, one ofwhich is connected with one fixedcontact 81 of therelayby the lead 82, and the other of which is connected with another fixed contact 83 of said relay through the lead 84. The movable contact 85 of the relay is connected by the lead 86 with the other terminal of the magnet 61.

As will more fully appear hereinafter, when the contacts 69 and 78 are connected respectively with the contacts 71 and 80, and the contactmember 35 is engaged with the electroconductive portions of the pattern or master 33, the magnet 61 will be d-e-energized and thuspermit the spring 64 to move each point '25 with the work plate or disk upon the support 19 with which it co-operates. vVith this setting, however, when the membe'r35 is engaged withthe'electro-nonconductive'portions of the pattern or master 33, the ,magnet '61 will be energizedand thus overcome the tension of the spring 64 and permit the spring 29 to disengage the gravelor work point 25 with the work plate or disk upon the support 19 with which it co operates. I

On the other hand, if the contacts 69and 78 be engaged with thecontacts 70 and 79, the engagement of the contact member 35 with the electro-nonconductive portions oi the pattern or master will cause the magnet 61 to be de-energized, thus permitting said holder 2eso as to'engage the graver or'work spring 64 150 move eachv holder 24 so as to engage the graver or other work point 25 with 1 said plate. When however, with this setting offthe machine the contact member '35 engages the electro-conductive portions of the pattern or master, the magnets 61 will be energized and will thus overcome the tension oi the spring 64 and permit the spring 29 to disengage the graver or work point 35 from the work plate or disk upon the support 19 with which it co-operates.

themanuiacture of the masteror pattern, it is more convenient to engrave o-r etch combined, formthe design.

the lines of the design to aconsiderable depth,

and, fill these lines. with electro-nonconductivematerial, and in referring to thedesign upon 'this' plate, these filled lines are considered' as constituting the design, although strictly speaking, the exposedsurfaces of the. plate 33 and the'filledllines 34 thereon, Hence in the setting ofthe contacts-69 and 78 first referred to, the engraved portions of the reproduction will correspond with the electro-conductive portion ofthe pattern or master, and the design represented by the lines 34 will be in cameo. 1 With't-he' second setting of said con tacts 69and 78, however, the engraved lines upon the work plate or disk will correspond with the lines 34 and thus have an intaglio design formed thereon. Hence the relay 75 and the switch mechanisms 69, 70, 71, 78, 7 9 andf80 constitute means which may be op- Q eratcd' toselectively secure a reproduction of the lines" 34 eitherin cameo or intaglio.

' When'the contacts 69 and 78 are engaged with the contacts 7 Oand 79, the electrical conditions are the same as'thoughno relay and no switch mechanism were used, since the en gagement of the contact 35 with the electroconductiveportions of the pattern or master 33will result in the closing of the circuit to the magnets 61 and the engagementof said contact 35 with the elec'tro-nonconductive portions of the pattern or master 33,

or the lines 34 will result in the opening of the circuit to said magnets 61.

' There are two further adjustments in the machine, both of which may be selectively .madeoperative or inoperative. The mechanism of one of such adjustments is for modify ing the reproduction of the design upon the master or pattern, by imparting movement to the carriage in excess of, or opposed to, the movementimparted thereto through the leverx52 and link 53, so as to secure a wavy or zigzag eifect in the lines of the reproduction. The mechanism for the other adjustment is for varying the quantity of movement of the gravers or work points25 with relation to thetwork plate or diskupon' the supports 19,'while the spring 64. is operative to engage said work point or points with said plate or disk, thus permitting a variable depth of cut movement to the carriage of said graver or work point in different per tions of the design.

In the former mechanism, I provide means whereby movement may be imparted to the carriage 30 independently of the movement imparted thereto through the mechanism for causing the slide 36 and the contact member to have movement across the pattern or master. This mechanism, in the form'of the invention shown, comprises a crank disk87 driven from the shaft 17 through the gear train 88. The crank 89 of this disk is mounted in a radially extending groove in the disk 87 distance from the axis of this disk in order to regulate the quantity of departure in the lines of reproduction from the lines upon the pattern or master. The crank 89 is connected with one end of a pitm'an 90, the'other end of which is connected with a crank 91 upon'the' member 52. The operative effect of this mechanism is to impart an oscillatory movement to the member 52, and hence to the point of pivotal support of the lever 51 in a manner to impart a rocking movement to this lever about the point of its pivotal connection with the slide 36 whichwill impart a vibratory 30 while it is receiving a very slow movement as result of the action of the gear 38 upon the rack 37. This movement of the carriage 30 under the control of the disk 87 will cause a departure upon both sides of the normal line of action of the graver and will produce a zigzag efi'ect in the line. which is not present in the design upon the pattern or master 33. The extent of this movement may be varied by adjusting the crank of the disk 87 toward or from the axisv of this disk.

I The other adjustment above referred to for varying the depth of the cut is eiiected by a mechanism consisting of a wheel 92 idly mounted upon the shaft 17, but being adapted to be connected thereto by means of a clutch 93. This wheel 92 has a plurality of tappets 94 thereon which are engageable with a pivoted plate 95 which is engaged by an adjustable member, as the screw 96, mounted in an arm 97 upon the shaft 57.

The pivoted plate 95 is pressed toward the wheel 92 by a, spring 98 and carries an adjustable member as. the screw 99 bearing upon the wheel 92 at one side of the projections 94 to limit the operative effect of these projections as to the extent of movement of the plate 95 and the shaft 57 under the control of said wheel; In fact this screw 99 may be so set as to make the wheel totally inoperative.

The screw 96 may also be used to limit the oscillation of the shaft 57 ina manner to secure extreme nicety in the regulation of the depth of cut when very fine work is desired, this adjustment supplementing that secured bymeans of the stop 63.

The slide 36' is mounted upon a track 136 3Q, culties encountered master, or pattern and said plate may be see.

cured in position by means oi'wax, or in any other desired manner which will cause said master or pattern or said work plate or disk to have. movement with their respective supports,-notwithstanding the resistance to such movement ofl'ered by the contact 1nember' 85 andthe graveror work point 25.

The chuckfor holding the graver or work point is not shown or described in detail since] any desired 'ol'd or well known constructlon may be used.

i s The operatlon of the herein described ma- H d i width of any line which may be engraved. 20. j The machine ofthe present 1 chine is substantiallye follows V v U 'nvention is designedparticularly for the production of engraved or chased designs upon a fiat surface, which designs have a general circular efiect. The; character {of the design is sub-- ject to wide Variation and may be simpleor complex, as desired. It may be composed in part of lines of varying lengths, and inpart of isolated areas, the operation of the ma" chine placing no limitation/whateverupon the character of the design beyond the difli-- in producing the master or pattern, which difficulties are minimize because" ofthe possibility of making the master or pattern upon a much larger scale than is required for the reproduced design.

In st'a'rtinga run of the machine, a master 'or pattern33is mounted upon the support orturn table '10 withthe'geometrical center of the design in axial alinement with said support orturn'table. A flatwork plate or disk is then mounted in each holder 19 with its geometrical center in agial aline-c ment' with the shaft 20. Since theo'peration of themachine isthe same whether'a" single 1 I ra plurality of work plates or disks are to l to the left'Fig. 1, until the point of the con be engraved, the presence or absence of such plates or disks in more than one of the holders is quite immaterial.

When the'master or pattern and the plate or plates have been properly mounted, the clutch 50 is released and theslide 36 moved tact 35 may be accurately registered with the edge of the design" formed by the electro-' nonconductive portion 34 of the design.

- When this contact member has been thus set,

the'clutch 50 is reset, and power is applied to the machine through the pulley 18 and shaft 17 The rotation-of the shaft 17 will, through the shaft 14 and the worm wheels actuated thereby and worms carried thereon, simultaneously turn the support 10 and each of the supports 19, the revolutions per minute of each of said'supports being'the same asievery other. a

The movable switch member carrying the contacts 69 and 7 8 is then thrown to either close the circuit through the contacts 71 and, or through the contacts 70 and'79,

according to whetherit' is desired, to have the parts of the design correspondlng with the velectro-nonconductive portions J in cameo or in intaglio.

Simultaneously withthe rotation the turn table 10' the shaft 19 will beturned at a very vlow speed, thus through the' rack 37 and slide 36, moving the'point of the con tact member 35 toward the geometrical center of the design upon the plate -This 7 movement is soslow as to result in no appreciable distortion in the reproduction since with one revolution'of the support, or turn table 10 the movement .will be less than the Assuming that the contacts and? 7 8are engaged with the contacts 71fa'nd..80, when the contact member is engaged. with the electro-nonconductive portion '84 of the design, the 'electromagnetlfll will be defenergi'zed and the current from the battery 67 will flow through the lead 68 to the electrod:..magnet 61, thence through the lead 86 to the vibrator 85, through the fixed vibrator post 83 through the contacts 78 and 8O' back to the negative pole of thebattery, As aconsequence the, armature plate 60 will begd fawn downwardly, moving the i cranks 58 out'of engagement with the stud 59, and permit ting the spring 29 to move the graver-or work point 25 out of engaging relation with the work plate or disk. The magnet 61, when energized, overcomes the tension of the spring 64 so that immediately with the opening of the circuit to the magnet 61 said spring will impart a return'os cillation to the shaft 57 andthrough the mechanisms above referred to, force the holder 24 and the graver or work point carried thereby into.

engagement with the plate. This'construction has the advantage that thepressure of the graver or other work point against the work plate or disk is determinedby the ten-' sion of the spring 64, the stop63 or the ad justing screw 96 limiting the movement of the Shaft 57 y S spring so as to control the depth of cut.

Immediately that the point of the-contact member 35 passes from an electro-nonconductive portion to an electro-conductive portion, the electromagnet 7 4 will be energized,

moving the vibrator 85 away from the'fiXed engaged with the plate, which may be duringone or more full revolutions of the support and the support 19, or during some part of a revolution thereof, the removal of 5 the metal from the work plate or disk results from the rotary movement thereof with relation to the graver or work point.

The rotation of the master or pattern 33 will bring every portion thereof circumferentially of the design, at the same radius, into-engaging relation with the contact member 35, while the travel of the contact 35 radially of the design or transversely thereof will constantly change the radius at which the member 35 contacts with the plate until the geometrical center of the design is reached. The contact 35 should not be moved past this center, since the graver or work pointis ordinarily so constructed and set that in the event of its passing the center of the work plate or-disk, the movement of said work plate or disk in relation to the graveror work point will be reversed and be ina direction which will preclude the removal of metal to form the design. The rotary movement of t is support 19 and the pattern 33, and the lineal movement of the slide 36 and contact 35, will thus ultimately bring this contact into engaging relation with every portion of the pattern.

It will be noted that the contact 35 does notfollow the linesof the design, but travels in a straight path and serves merely as an electrical contact member and not as a tracing stylus.

During theoperation of the machine, the. conditions at the work plateor disk are similar to those at the master or pattern, in so far as the movement of the graver or work point in relation to the work plate or disk is concer ed,since the supports 19 have a rotative action corresponding exactly with that of the support 10, and the carriage 30 has lineal traverse imparted thereto through the lever 51 and link 53 parallel with the movement of the slide 36 along the guide 136, the quantity of this movement, however, being less than that of the slide 36 by reason of the employment of a lever 51 of the second class. There is this difference, however, that while the contact member 35 is always in engagement with the master or pattern 33, the graver or work point 25 is engaged with the work'plate or disk or disengaged therefrom in accordance with the arrangement of the electro-conductive and electro-nonconductive parts of the design upon the master or pattern33.

Since all of the holders 24: are secured to the carriage 30, and are actuated from the same shaft 57 as controlled by a single electro-magnet 61 and spring 64, it. is apparent that the production of a plurality of engraved articles will be characterized by a substantial identity in all such articles, and

that irrespective of the number of supports 19 and holders 24 used in the machine, the

working conditions about the machine will al ays be the same.

When it is desired to have the reproduction upon the work plate or disk exactly following that upon the pattern or master, the plate 95 is by means of the screw 99 so positioned as to be out of the operative range of the tappets 94:, and the pivot 89 is set centrally of the disk 87.

It is possible to secure appreciable changes in the eliect of the design, however, by varying the depth of cut of the graver or work point 25 in different parts of the design, or throughout the entire design.

It is also possible to secure different effects by using a zigzag or wavy line in the reproduction where the pattern or master has a straight line,and this may also extend to a part only of the design or throughout the entire design. It is possible also to secure still different effects by both varying the depth of cut and using zigzag or wavy lines in. the reproduced design, and still different eii'ects may be secured by setting the machine so as to increase or decrease the depth of cut when varied as described, or by increasing or decreasing the quantity of zigzag or wavy movement. Furthermore, the machine may be stopped at any time and the setting of the machine changed so as to introduce lines or spots of difierent characters in different portions of the reproduced design.

Adverting first to the varying depth of cut in c it'ferent portions of the design, the set screw 99 is turned so as to permit the plate 95 to move toward'the wheel 92 and into enga ing relation with the tappet or tappets '94 thereon, it being possible to use any desired number of such tappets, although one or two will suffice, because of the relatively high speed of the wheel 92 with relation to the speed of the supports 10 and 19. The set screw 96-may then be so set while engaged with the plate 95 as to predetermine the maximum depth of cut. lVith this setting the plate 95 will have oscillatory movement with each engagement of a tappet 94 therewith, the extent of such oscillatory movement being governed by the setting of the crew 99. The oscillations of the plate 95 by reason of the distance of the screw 99 from the axis of the shaft 57 will result in a very slight movement to said shaft. The downward movement of said plate permits the spring 6% to increase the movement of the holder 24 and the graver or work point toward the support 19, and the upward movement of said plate reverses the IDOVGIHQTJlI'Of the holder 24. As a consequence, when the tappets 94 are not engaged with the plate 95, when the magnet 61 is ale-energized, the reproduced line will have the greatest depth as determined by the setting of the screw 96; and with the engagement of a-tapp et 94 with said :plate 95,'when the magnet 61 is de-energized, the depth of the line will be decreased as compared with the normal functioning of the machine when the wheel 92 is inoperative to eiiect any change in parts'of the design. In fact the construction of the machine may be such as to permit a setting ofthe plate-95 in a manner to entirely disengage the graver or work point 25 from the work plate or disk when the tappets are It must be borne in min of this-type the'depth of cut is measured by particular attention need be given the posiat 'a very much higher speed than the travel athousandthof 'a'n'inch, and since-an ordinary angular pointed graver or work point is used, this variance in the depth of cut will result also in a slight variance in thewidth of the out. i The stop 63 will have the efiect of limiting the oscillatory movement of the armature 60, and when the adjusting screw 96 isfused for controlling the depth of out, no

tion of said stop'beyond so setting it that under no circumstances can the armature pass from the field ofthe magnet 61. I

' When it is desired to impart a zigzag or wavyeflect to lines in the reproduction, the crank'89 is moved radially of the disk 87 acv cording to the desired magnitude of the lat erali movement of the support independently of its movement through the slide 36. Of course, when this crank 89 is set co-axially with the disk 87, no movement will be imparted to the pitman 90, and the'movement will increase proportionately to the distance of the setting of thecrank from the axis of the disk. I 1 i While the machine is in operation, the disk 87 will be turned at a relatively higher speed than the shaftand will impart, oscillatory movement to the fitting 52 through the crank 91 upon said fitting. The result will be a rapid oscillatory movement of the point of pivotal connection of the lever 51 with said fitting 52, and thus impart movement to the carriage 30, in alternately opposite directions,

of said carriage under the control of the slide 36. As a consequence, the work point 25'will moveradially of the work plate or disk upon 7: the holder 19,the rotation of this holder, however, simultaneously with the radial movement of the graver or work point resulting in the zigzag or wavy effect referred to.

:As stated above,'the pitman 90 may be so set with relation to the disk 87 as to make this disk inoperative to introduce any modification in the reproduction. This is also true as to the. plate 95. In fact, the plate 95 and the disk 87 maybe used one entirely independently of the other, or maybe used con- I highly artistic and more or due to the fact thatthe carriage 30 will travel at a lower-speed than the slide 36. Thisiconstruction is used because of the fact that the work plate or disk is usually of a size and the number of fine lines of the design engraved thereon'are'such, as would make the production to the same scale of a pattern with its e'lectro-conductive and electro-nonconductive portions. extremelydilficult. I

lVh'ile the machine illustrated in the accompanying drawings has been found in actual practice to be capable of producing highly a'rtistic watch dials, and to be capable of producing such dials in large quantities at low cost, with the design upon each dial an exact replica of that upon all others, it is apparent that there may be various changes in the detailed mechanisms of the machine which will secure thesame operative effects. 7 V

I believe itto'be broadly new toprovide an engraving machine'wherein the engagement and disengagement of the graver or work point with a work plate or disk is electrically controlled through the mediumof a pattern or master, parts of-which are of electro-conductive, and other parts of which are of electro-nonconductive material, which .master plate co-operates with a contact member having movement in relation thereto while rotary movement is being imparted to said pattern or master and to the support for the work plate or diskso as to reproduce the pat- The design shown upon the pattern or master 33 as indicated by the line 34 in the drawings, is merely a conventional showing of a very simple design, the designs actually used upon said pattern or master ordinarily being less complicated in their nature. I

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the drawings it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.-

Having described the invention, what I claim as n d desire to have protected by Letters Patent, ig mi' 1. An engraving machine embodying therein a support for a master, a support for With the work a wo-rk plate, means imparting similar simultaneous movement. to said supports, a master bearmga' design havm'g'portions t electroconduct vema'terial and other portions of electro-nonconductive material, a slid'eadja'c'ent' said support forthe master, a'contact member pivotally mounted upon said slide, a' rack and pinronmecham'sm' operative upon said slrde tompart slow movement thereto", a

"carriage slidably mounted adjacent thesupport for'the work plate, a holder for a work point upon said" carriage, a spring normally tending'to move said holder away from said support, a spring actuated member operative upon said holder to move toward said support against the tension of'sa'id' spring,a lever pivotally connected to said slide and to a part of the'machin'e, a pitman connection between saidlevenand said carriage, whereby said Contact and said holder receive" simultaneous lineal traverse with relation to said supports for't-he'master and fontheiwork plate" respectively, and anelectrically'actuated mechanism' operati-veuponi said spring actuated mei'n-b'er, the circuit't'o which is controlled by sa-id mastfer and said contact member, whereby said holder will lee-automatically caused toengage or disengage the work'p'oint plate as determined by the opening or closing of an electrical circuit at said master.

- '2; An "engraving machine emttd m "therein a support for a master, a'support for a wo'rk'plat'e, means imparting similar simu-ltaneous movement to said supports, a master bearingfla design having portions of electro-conductive material and other portions 02E 'e'lectro=nonconductive material, a slide adjacent said support for the master, a contact member pivotally mounted upon said slide; a rack and pinionmechanism operative upon said' slide toimpart slow movement thereto; a carriage slid 'a-blymounted adj acent the support for thewor'k plate, aholder for aworkpoint upon said carriage,a spring normally tending to movesaid holder away from said support, a spring actuated member operative upon said holder tomove it toward said support against the ten'sionfiof said spring, a lever pivotal-1y connected to said slide and tea part ofthe machine, a pitman connection between said lever intermediate its points of pivotal support and said ca-rriage, whereby said contact and said holder receive simultaneous lineal traverse" with relationt'o-said supports for the master and for the workpl'ate respectively, andanelectrical 1y actuated mechanism operative upon said spring actuated member, the circuit to which is controlled byflsaid master and said contact member, whereby said holder will 'be' auto"- "conductive material and work point with the work plate asdetermined by the opening or closing of an electricalcircuit at said master.

3. An engraving machine embodying therein a support for a master, a support for a work plate, means imparting similar simultaneous movement to said supports, a master bearing a design having portions of electroother portions of clectro nonconductire material, aslide adjacent said support for the master, a: contact member pi-votally mounted upon said slide, a rack and pinion mechanism operative upon said slide'to impart slow movement thereto, a carriage slid'ably mounted adjacent the support for the work plate, a holder for awork point upon said carriage, a spring normally tending to move said holder away from said support, a spring actuated member operated upon said holderto move it toward said support against the tension of said spring, a lever pivotally connected tosaid slide and to a part of the machine, apitman} connection between said lever intermediate its points of pivotal support and said carriage, whereby said contact and said holder'receiVesimulta neouslineal traverse with relation to said supports for the master and for the Work plate respectively, means whereby said pitman may be adjusted longitudinally of said lever to vary the scale of the reproduction, and an electricallyactuated mechanismoperativ-e upon said spring actuated member, the'circu-it to which is controlled by said mastor and said contact member, whereby said holder will be automatically caused to engage or disengage the work point with the work plate as-determined by the opening or closing of an electrical circuit at said master, p

4. An engraving machine embodying therein a support for a master, a bearing thereforhaving a vertical axis, a sup p'ort tor a work plate,a bearing thereforhavinga 1 101 izontal axis, means whereby said supports are simultaneously rotated with the same number of revolutions per" minute, a master hearing a design having" portions 0t electroconduc'tive 'material and other portionsof electro-noncon'ductive material, aslide ad'- jacent said support for the master,-a contact member pivotally mounted upon said slide, a rack and pinion mechanism operative upon said slide to impart slow movement thereto, a carriageslidably mounte'd adjacent thesupport for'the work plate, a holder for a work point uponsaid carriage, a lever pivotally connected to said slide and to a part of the machine*,-'a pitman connection betweensaid lever" and said carriage, whereby said contact and said holder receive" simultaneous lineal traverse with relation to said supports for the master and for thework plate respectively, and anelectrically actuated mechanism operative upon said holder, the circuit ftherein a support for a master, a bearing a work plate, a bearing therefor having a .horizontalaxis, means whereby said supports are simultaneouslyrotated with the same number-of revolutions per minute, a master toxwhich is controlled by said masterand said contact member, wherebysaidiholder will be automatically caused to engage or-dis s engage the work point wit the work plate" as. Ldetermined by the opening or closing of an electrical circuit at sald master.

5. An engravingv machine 1 embodying therefor having a vertical axis, asupport i'or bearing a design having portions of electroconductive material and other portions ,of electro-nonconduct1ve material, a sl de ad acent said support for theanaster, a contact 3 member pivotaliy mounted upon said slide,

a rackiand pinion mechanism operative upon saidslide to impart slow movement-thereto,

a carriage slidably mounted adj acent thereup- Tp ort for, the work plate, a holder for awork:

point upon said carriage, means operative to movesaid holder toward said support. for the -;work plate, a spring acting thereon, means I limiting the operative effect ofsaid spring,

a secondspring having a normal, tendency tomove'said holdersaway from said support for the workplate when the means operative upon said holderv is made inoperative, an

.electromagnet the circuit to which is controlled by said master and said contact memher, an, armature co-operating with said magnet and operative upon said means for movlng the holder, whereby the engagement or disengagement of the workpoint with the work plate is controlled by the opening or closing of an electrical circuit at said'master, a lever pivotally connected togsaid' slide, and to a part of the machine, and a pitman connection between said lever and said carriage, whereby said contact and said holder receive simultaneous lineal traverse with relation to said supports forthe master and for the work plate respectively.

,6. An-engraving machine embodying therein a support fora master, a bearing therefor having a vertical axis, a support for a work plate, a bearing therefor having a horizontal axis, amaster bearing a .designhaving portionsof electro-conductive material and other portions of electro-nonconductive material, a

slide adjacent said support for the master, a

contact member pivotally mounted upon said slide, a rack andpinion mechanism operative upon said slide to impart slow movement thereto, a carriage slidably mounted adjacent the support for the work plate, a holder for a work pointupon said carriage, means operative to move said holder toward said support for the work plate, a spring acting thereon,

means limiting the-operative effect of said spring, a second springhavi-ng. a normal tends ency to move-said holder away from said support for thework plate when the means operative upon said holder is made inoperative, an electromagnet the circuit to which .is controlled by said master andsaid contact member, an-armatureco-operating with said magnet and operative upon sa d means for moving theholder,.whereby the engagement or disengagement of thework point with work plate is controlled by. thev opening or closing of an electrical circuit at said master,

av part of the machine,apitman connection between sa d lever andsaidcarriage, where by said contact and said holder TQCQIYB simultaneous lineal traverse with relationto said supports for the master and forithewwork plate respectively, amainpower'shait, speed reducing gear ng connecting said shait with said supportsrespectively, whereby said supports are simultaneously rotated with the same number of revolutions perminute, and a speed reducing mechanism co-operating with said rackjand pinion mechanism. p 7. An engraving machine embodying therein a support for a master,a supportfor a work plate, means impartlng s milar. s1mul taneous movement tosaid supports, a master bearing" a design having portions. or electroconductivej material and other portions of "electro-nonconductive material, I a slide adj acent sa d support; iorthe master, a contact membrpivotaily mounted upon said slide, a rack andp1n1on mechanism operative upon {said slide to impart slow movement thereto,

a carriage slidably mounted adjacent the sup- .port for the work plate, "a iholderfor 'a work point upon said carriage, .a pivotal fitting adjacent said carriage, a lever, one'end' of which is pivotally connected with said slide,

and theiother end or which. is pivotallyi; connectedwith said fitting, a pitman connection between said .leverintermediate its points of pivotal support and said carriage whereby said contact and saidholder receive simultaneous lineal traverse with relation to said supports for the masterand for the work plate respectively, an electrically actuated mechanism operative upon said holder, the circuit to which is controlled by said master and said contactmember, whereby said holder will be automaticallycaused to engage or disengage the work point with the work plate as determinedvby the opening or closing of an electrical circuit at said master, a rotatable crank disk, a crank upon said fitting, anda a lever pivotally connected to said slideandto :aaeaees electro-nonconductive: material, a slide adjacent said support for the master, a contact member pivotally mounted upon said slide, a rack and pinion mechanism operative upon said slide to impart slow movement thereto, a carriage slidably mounted adjacent the support for the work plate, a holder for a work. point upon said carriage, a pivotal fitting adjacent said carriage, a lever, one end ofwhich is pivotally connected with said slide, and the other end of which is pivotally connected with said:fitting,a pitman connecition between said lever points 01% intermediate its pivotal support and said; carriage, whereby said contact and, said, holder receive simultaneous li-neal'tr-aversewith relation to said supports for the master and for the work platerespectively, an electrically actuated mechanism operative upon-said holder,

the circuit to which is controlled by said master and said contact member, whereby said holder will bra-automatically caused to'engage or disengage the work. point with the work plate as determined by the opening. or closing of an electrical circuit .atsaid'master, a rotatable. crank disk, a crank upon said fitting, a pitman connecting said crank disk wit-h said crank, whereby a short reciprocatory move.- mentmay be imparted to said carriage througlrsaidfitting and said lever, andmeans whereby the operative effect of said crank disk may be varied. I 9; An engraving machine embodying therein a support for-a master, a support for a work plate, means impartingsimilarsimuh taneous movement to said supports, a master bearing; a designhaving portions of electro- .conductive material. and" other portions of electrornonconductive material, a slide ad.- j acent. said support 'for the. master, a contact member pivotally mounted upon said slide, a rack and: pinion mechanism operative upon said: slide to-impart slow movement thereto, a carriage slidably. mounted adjacent the sup.- port for the work plate,.a holder for a work point upon said carriage, a pivotal fitting'adjacent said carriage, a-lever, one endof which is pivotally connected with said slide, and the other: end of which. is pivotally connected with said fitting, a; pitman connection be tween said lever intermediate its points of pivotal support and said carriage, whereby said contact and said holder receive simultaneous lineal traverse with relation to said supports for the master-and for the work plate respectively, an electrically actuated mechanism operative upon said holder, the circuit; to. which iscontrolle'd by said master and said contact member, whereby said holder will he automatically'caused tor-engage or disengagethe work'point with the work plate "as determined by theopening or closing of an-electrical circuit at said master,.a rotatabl'ecrank: dis-k, a. crank upon said fitting,

aapitmanrconnecting'saidcrankdiskwithsaid I throughzsaid fitting and said lever, and means whereby the crank upon said disk may be adjusted radially thereof" to vary the operative" effect of said disk upon said carriage."

10; engraving machine embodying therein a support for a master, a support for a work plate',.means imparting similar simultaneous movement to said supports, a master bearing a design having portions of electroconductive material and other portions of electro-nonconductive material, a slide adjacent said support for the master, a contact member pivotally mounted: upon said slide, arack and pinion mechanism operative upon said slide toimpart slowmovement thereto, a carriage slidably mounted adjacent the support for the work plate, a holder for a workpoint upon said carriage, a pivotal fittingadjacent said carriage,a lever, one end of which is pivotally connected with said slide, and? the other end of whichisrpivotally connected. with said fitting, a-pit-man connection between said lever intermediate its points of pivotal support and said carriage, whereby said Contact andsaid holder receive simultaneous lineal traverse with relation to said supportsfor the master and a for the work plate respectively, an electrically actuated: mechanism operative upon said: holder, thecircuit to which is controlled by said master and said contact member, whereby said hold-erwill be automatically caused; to engage or disengage the work point. with the work plate as determinedby thev opening or closing of an electrical circuit at said master, a rotatable crankdislga crank upon said fitting, a pitman connecting said: crank disk with said crank,v whereby a; shortv reciprocatory movement may be imparted to saidzcarriage throughsaid fitting andsaid lever, and means whereby the crankupon said disk may be adjusted: radially thereof to vary the operative effect of said diskupon said carriage, or ilnake said disk operative or inoperative at Wil 11. An engraving machine embodying therein a: support for a master, a supportfor a work plate, means imparting similar'simultaneous movement to said supports, a holder for a work. point adjacent the'support for'the work plate, a master. bearing: a design having portions ofelectro-conductive material and: other portions of electro-noncondu'ctive material, an electrical. contact member cooperating with said master,'.means imparting movement to said contact member transversely of said master, means whereby'movement' transversely of the work plate is imparted to said holder simultaneously'with' the movement of said contact member, an electrically actuated mechanism operative upon said holder, the circuit to which is controlled by said master and said contact member,

: *whereby'said' holder will be automatically caused. to engage or disengage the work point with the work plate as determined by the 'opening'or'closing of; an electrical circuit at said master, and automatically acting means -whereby movement of said holder toward and from the-support for the work plate may be imparted thereto independently of said electrically actuated mechanism to vary the depth of cut.

12. An engraving machine embodying therein a support for a master, a support for a work plate, means imparting similar simultaneous movement to said supports, a holder for a-workpoint adjacent the support for the work plate, a master bearing-a design having portions of electro-conductive material andvother portions of electro-nonconduc- :tive material, an electrical contact member co-operating with said master, means imparting movement to said contact member trans 'versely: of said'master, means whereby movement transversely of the work plate is imparted to said holder 7 "simultaneously with the movement'bf said contact member,an electrically actuated mechanism operative upon said holder, the circuit to which is controlled by said master and said contact mem- 7 her, whereby said holder will beautomati- 130 cally caused toengage or disengagethe work point with the work plate as determined by V ;the opening or closing of an electrical circuit atsaid master, adjustable means controlling the operative effect ot'said electrically actuated mechanismlin"determiningthe depth of cut, and automatically acting means whereby movement of said-holdertoward and from V the support for the work plate may be imparted thereto independently of saidelectricallyactuated mechanism, to vary the depth of out. i 1

-. 13. An engraving machine embodying therein a support for a master,a support for a work plate, meansimparting similar simultaneous movement to said supports, a holder fora work point adjacent the'support for the work plate, a master bearing a design having portions of electro-conductive materialand otherportions of electro-nonconduct'ive'material, an electrical contact member co-operating with said master, means vimparting movement tosaid contact member transversely of said master, means whereby movement transverselyof thework plate is imparted to said holder simultaneusly with the movement of said contact member, an electrically actuated mechanism operative upon said holder, the circuit to which is controlled by said master and said contactmember, wherebysaid holder will be automatically caused to' engage or disengage the work point with thevwork plateas determined the opening or closing of an electrical circuit at 'saidjmaster, automatically acting means whereby movement of said holder to-.

'ward and from the support for the work plate may be imparted thereto independently of said electrically actuated mechanism to vary and from said-supportfor the work plate, a

master bearing a design havingport-ions of electro-conductive material and other portions of electro-nonconductive materia'han electrical contact member co-operating with said masterfm ea'ns imparting movement to said contact member transversely of said master, means whereby movement transverselyof the work plate is imparted to said holder simultaneously with the movement of said contact member, a rock shaft, a crank thereon, a' studcarried by saidholder engageabie by saidicrank, a spring acting upon said rock shaft with a normal tendency to cause movement of said holder toward said support for the work plate, means limiting the operative effectof said spring, a second spring acting between said holder and said bearing with a normal tendency to move said holder away from said support or work plate, an electromagnet, the circuit to which is controlled by said master and said contact member, an armature carried by said rock shaft and co -operating with said magnet, whereby the engagement or "disengagement-of the work point with the work plate iscontrolled by the opening or closing of an electrical circuit at said master, an arm upon said rock shaft, an oscillatory plate in engageable relation with said arm and a tappet wheel cooperating with said plate whereby rocking movement may be imparted to said rockshaft independently'of said armature.

15. An engraving machine embodying therein a support for a master, a support for a work plate, means imparting similar simultaneous movement to said supports, a holder for-a work pointadjacent the support for the work plate, a bearing for said holder permitting movement thereof toward and from said support for the work plate, a master bearing a design having portions of 'electro-conductive material and other portions of electro-nonconductive material, an electrical contact member co-operating with said master, means imparting movement to said contact member transversely of said mason, a stud carried bv said holder engageable by said crank, a spring acting upon said rock shaft with a normal tendency to cause movement of said holder toward said support for the work plate, means limiting the operative ell'ect of said spring, a second spring acting between said holder and said bearing with anormal tendency to move said holder away from said support or work plate, an electromagnet, the circuit to which is controlled by said master and said contact memher, an armature carried by said rock shaftand co-operating with said magnet, whereby the engagement or disengagement of the work point with the work plate is controlled by the opening or closing of an electrical circuit at said master, an arm upon said rock shaft, an oscillatory plate in enga'geable relation with said arm, a tappet wheel co-operating with said plate whereby rocking movement may be imparted to said rock shaft independently of said armature, an adjusting screw carried by said plate and ada ted to engage said tappet wheel to control the operative effect of the tappets thereon u on said plate, and an adiusting screw carried by the second crank and engaging said plate.

In witness whereof I have hereunto afli ed my signature, this twelfth day of April, 1926.

WILLIAM S. EATON. 

